2797 réponses à ce sujet

[cinderburster]

Lucastake wrote...

I have played Bioware games for many many years and I have to say DA2, was the biggest dissapointment from a Bioware game I have experienced, as I probably had such high expectations from you guys.

Lets start by saying, the main story line was good, but a tad shallow! You could have made the game so much better with stories continues from the original such as Flem and Morg! Which was mentioned in the first chapter of the game! The ending was a total waste of time and seriously inconclusive!

The combat and graphics were grand. But in terms of story and character development, this was an utter sham. It seems slightly half assed to me, and I understand it was developed in a rather short period of time but its no excuse from (in my opinion) the worlds greatest maker of deep story driven RPGs.

I am annoyed because I know all the new content will be out for DLC as a money spinner. You could have made the game great, its just average.
You should of brought in more characters from the original who make a difference, even the hero of fereldan. Even when we meet Grey Wardens within the game, they leave.

Again the story is half assed and I think it lets down the whole game. (the story however is well told, in its format it just needs more in depth story and more padding!)

I felt the story was a little less meaty than I would've liked too, but I'm taking the view that this game is setting up for a much larger, more plot-driven third installation to the series.  The ending wasn't so much a waste of time as a springboard, and as for inconclusive... well, of course it was.  I'm thoroughly convinced that it was intentional--the devs want us hanging on for the next installment.

ALSO one thing for the devs that I forgot in my original review: I loooooved the interactions with the Mabari hound!  I was sad that not all of my companions had one, though. :<

Modifié par cinderburster, 18 mars 2011 - 11:10 .

[Heldenbrand]

Characters felt a little one dimensional and forced upon me. In Origins I was able to, by process of experiences and conversations, alter their views of things. Alistair and Leliana could be 'hardened' while Morrigan could arguably be 'softened'. Here, I felt as though I couldn't change the opinions of characters around me no matter what actions I took or dialogue options I pursued (with rare exceptions).

Fenris never seemed to waiver from his hatred of mages, Anders could never be swayed from his path of vengence, Sebastian seemed dead set upon revenge, Merrill could never admit that her pursuit of knowledge at all costs was a dangerous path. I realize that some of these were story related, but it felt as though even though we had years of adventuring together, none of them could be influenced by my character unless I romanced them.

I was disappointed that I was forced to accept certain characters as well. If I needed a tank, without playing one, I was forced to take Aveline. If I needed a healer, and did not play one, Anders was the only choice. In Origins, if I didn't like Sten I could take Oghren. If I didn't like Wynne I could turn Morrigan into a healer. If I didn't like Alistair, I could use Shale. For a majority of the game if I played a rogue my party was almost always going to be Aveline, Anders and Varric. I couldn't really experience the other characters unless I turned down the difficulty so that I could swap out certain characters. It also made it exceptionally difficult, without meta gaming, to fully explore their personalities and earn friendship/rivalry. In Origins, even if I didn't use a character our conversations at camp and the application of gifts made it so that I could at least get to know them a little.

And I know this will be a point of contention, but I truly did not care for a majority of the male personalities in this game. Varric was wonderful and Carver played an amazing foil for sibling rivalry. However, Fenris, Anders and Sebastian all felt immensely effeminate to me. I know you might feel under some pressure to capture a wider net of female gamers, but none of them felt as if they had been roughened up by this hard world they lived in. They were all 'pretty boys' without any scarring to speak of for what was supposed to be a life of violence. Aveline was a good example of a proud, tough female character with a certain nobility that wasn't shoved into my face. Isabela bothered me by her constant sexual innuendo. I understand it was in her character, but after the 1000th sexually suggestive comment I literally said aloud; "I get it, you're a harlot."

Edit: I also feel obligated to expand upon my "pretty boy" comment.  Oghren and Sten from Origins are good examples of the rough characters, two dynamically different, but not necessarily sexually geared characters.  ... despite the great commentary of a drunken Oghren.  Awakening also had Nathaniel who changed (albeit rather quickly) from loathing you, toward a begrudging respect.  Garrus from Mass Effect was also a great example of a battle scarred veteran, while also maintaining a romance possibility.  The DLC character Zaeed also was just a haggardly scarred mercenary, though decidedly lacking in conversation options.  They felt as though they were people who had really seen the dark side of the world.  Anders felt extremely angsty to me regarding the plight of the mages, Fenris felt very 'broody' (as pointed out by Varric) and Twilight-ish, while Sebastian just felt flat like a pretty noble lad.

I know that many character devices in place to keep the end game on track, but that felt more like I was just observing the characters rather than truly leading or inspiring them.

Edit: Um, yeah, one more edit.  Reused maps really got on my nerves after awhile.  In Origins it felt as if I saw the same place once or twice.  I got really tired of Kirkwall, the same building/sewer layout very fast.  Limiting my access to certain weapons, IE no more dual wielding/archery warrior.  

Modifié par Heldenbrand, 18 mars 2011 - 11:50 .

[Jhime]

Wow, not going to read 31 pages, just putting in my personal gripes.

The camera and LoS restriction makes it really hard to target sometimes. It'd be better if I could target enemies in LoS of any of my characters. Sometimes I select two or three of them just to get a different viewpoint.
Reused maps. They suck, but you know it by now.
No shrieks (as of act 2 anyway). I used to hate shrieks. In a good way.
Edit: Ah, and I don't like that I have to bring a rogue for the locked chests. My favorite party would've been two warriors and two mages.

Things in OP i disagree about:
The assassin enemies. They add to the strategy and keep you on your toes.
Junk is fine, better than "Darkspawn dagger" x10.
The interface, this one is much improved.

Modifié par Jhime, 18 mars 2011 - 11:41 .

[aox_general]

Xaenn wrote...

Very interesting to read through several of these last few threads to see posters posting complete opposite approval and disagreements. I do not wish to be Bioware in this case, because they would never be able to create a game.

No matter if you're a die hard fan of RPG, Action RPG or Action games in general. Dragon Age is suppose to be a RPG (D&D) Spin off? It's suppose to be a pure blood RPG game, a lot of people are saying they like it but pointing out clear cut Action elements. Perhaps they should of made it RPG then an action game with elements of rpg. Seems a lot of people also want it to become more of an action game then it is already (origins was lacking on elements of a true rpg as well). I'm not saying any points arn't valid, its already slid right out of the RPG spot, maybe petition they create a game like DA:2 just create a new franchise and call it something different. Then people who want an action oriented rpg can have what they want and RPG's can have their RPG.

Have to admit it's very frustrating  to see so many action oriented lovers trying to sway the game to be more action oriented then it even is, I really don't mean any offense when I say this, instead of trying to get a game bent to your desires, if you perfer action oriented games, play them and leave the RPG's alone. Because of the larger action oriented market out right now, RPG's are an empty shell compared to what they were once.  If this game was marketed (including origins) as action RPG, I wouldn't say a word, but it's supose to be an RPG.  I would say if you have to make it exclusively  for PC like Baldur's Gate 1&2 were and Icewind dale so be it, but stop killing RPGs ::crying:

Anyone else not only like theorycrafting but planning out your whole story? I've even planned out my game from Origins (Which I just started again) from expansion, from each skill point, ability point, what I'm going to do in the story all the way to DA:2? :happy:

Yes! I second that. RPGs should be RPG more than anything else. It was/is an intersting idea to try and combine Action and RPG but if that combination means that time-proven, *beloved* and sorely missed (yes, I'm dramatic) elements of RPG will now be missing then I don't see the RPG crowd coming along for the ride.  If you can combine everything (which I don't think you can) so that action fans can play the game as action and rpg fans can play the game as rpg, then fine, but if not then both rpg fans and action fans will find tons of things missing from the game (but for different reasons).  

I, too, am worried about the future of true RPGs.  Lately I'm left with nothing better to play than 2 worlds () and gothic 4 (what a tragedy that was).   

[Justin2k]

I have many issues but I'll just put a few of the big ones

- I didnt like Male Hawkes voice or any males in the character creation
- I didnt like the dynasty warriors style combat and preferred the WoW style from origins.
- I miss being a dwarf with a big axe
- I miss the liveliness of the world and chats with funny npcs. And good sidequests.
- I miss being able to customise my parties look
- I think the lack of maps are terribly lazy
- I think you could have made a great game if you spent another year or so on it and filled the world with as much love as you did for DA:O

Thats all I can say really without getting in trouble.

Modifié par Justin2k, 19 mars 2011 - 12:31 .

[klurifix]

The only thing needed for another epic adventure was a new map, new story. Improved graphics and so on just a bonus.
This sequel, with the change that you cannot equip armor on companions, the "world" downsized to a city and the whole feeling that this game is just masseffect in dragon age theme made this game epic as well....epic fail.
Ive said it in other threads and i repeat myself here: I feel robbed, mainly because i was expectating another epic adventure, but this feels like a "cash cow" rather than a game that was made for the fans. Theres your constructive critic! Listen to the fans, or loose them.

Modifié par klurifix, 19 mars 2011 - 12:34 .

[contextual_entity]

Nerevar-as wrote...

Amitar wrote...

captain.subtle wrote...

Also QUIT WITH THE OVERDONE ROMANCES! Its an action RPG for chirst's sake. We want more mature themed philosophical dialogues (like in Deus Ex, Planescape) than twilight rehashes.

Pretty much every other critism I have has been done to death already, but I felt this needed to be highlighted again.

I have no real issue with romances as such, but I'd happily lose them all for some good philosophical, political and genuinely interesting dialogues.

See: Planescape Torment, KoTOR2:TSL and New Vegas for games that put their themes much higher than their romances and do so very well (irregardless of the rest of the game content.)

No one forces you to do a romance.

I´m really missing the first talk we could have with the companions on Origins. It really gave me a good early feel of how they were. DA2 feels more like Awakening, but there all happened in about 15 hours. Here I´ve have 2-3 talks in 40 hours so far. It´s hard to me to feel much empathy towards most of them.

I think you're missing my point.
I like the romances and am I certainly not suggesting they remove them. I'd simply rather have the academia as a personnal preference. Both deeper academic themes and romances would be the ideal, but if they could only do one, I'd rather have the later.

I repeat, I am not complaining about the romances.

[rflandy]

Agree with most of OP's post except the UI. New one is fantastic compared to Origins.

Tactics options give you a lot less room in DA2 too. I feel like companions behaved much more intelligently in Origins.

[TEWR]

I want to know something people.


Do you think people would have less of a problem with the new combat animations if the enemies also attacked with them, at the same speed as the party characters? If you look at them when they attack they're still using the Origins style of combat.

[Gaus5000]

What I personally wanted to add here that I didnt yet see (if its here already, sorry for claiming having the first post about it) is the fact that Nightmare took so much energy (and time) out of me figuring out playstyles and optimal group configuration that its just REALLY disappointing not getting anything for it!

And by that I mean nothing MORE than I would get on casual. Its just not rewarding enough. I mean I enjoyed the game for a long time, but at a certain point, when theres just no end to those assassins and templars, I wished Id get some reward for completing one act or one boss or the whole game on NM!

And Im not speaking about a damn trophy, which on the PS3 at least, doesnt give me anything other than respect. I want extra experience points (a lot more please) or extra weapons and armor or even runes, I dont care, just give me something for my work.

Other than that, please just do something about the maps re-use, because at this point, I cant even recommend this game to my friends without them telling to rather wait till the game goes down in price.

Oh, and although the crazy linearity of the map-design didnt seem to bother me THAT much, its still embarrasing. Reminds me of Final Fantasy 13. It doesnt help, if the map has some curves or circles, it couldve also been a line, doesnt make a difference, because there is no other space outside of that curved tunnel.

What made me angry aswell after some time: the ginourmous amount of loading screens you have to face when playing this game; I dont even know whats taking so long to load, if its only one small area (like the Hanged Man) or a tunnel area (like the Wounded Coast).

I mean seriously, Im not that much of a programmer, but there is certainly a way to do it better, like letting things preload, when you get close to the "Hanged Man's" door or something like that. I mean really, the way this game plays is: you spend a couple of minutes at the most in one area (depending on its size obviously) then you move to the next and so on and so forth; which lets you watch at loading screens A LOT!

Ok, if you got thus far reading, thanks for that! If you are a developer caring about our opinions, props to you good sir.

Modifié par Gaus5000, 19 mars 2011 - 02:02 .

[Ahisgewaya]

It really dissapointed me that we could not choose our race in Dragon Age 2. I didn't mind as much once I heard more about it becasuse you can be an apostate. I do not want to play as an idiot templar or other pro chantry person however. I rarely play humans in rpgs, and the humans in Dragon Age are particularly repulsive (most are racist, religious bigots in the game world, why would I want to pretend to be a racist bigot?)

The worst thing about having to just have a human to support the story is that I don't think they will ever have an elf or dwarf story because of this. Some people don't like elves, others don't like dwarves. The thing with making you play as a human though is that humans in this game are for the most part, a disgusting people. There is nothing I admire about the humans in Dragon Age. But someone in a meeting somewhere will no doubt say "since we are humans in real life, everyone will like playing a human". And since they know that not everyone likes elves or dwarves we will never see another game starring an elf or a dwarf or anything other than human.

Anyway, I said all of that because I want them to know what I mean when I say "more customization". I like to be able to make my own background (or at least pick from more than one background), it's one of the things I loved about the Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights series. 

As to the combat, I like it for the most part. 

The characters themselves I would like to have more influence over, much as Heldenbrand said in his post. (why can't you convince Merril that what she is doing is a bad idea for example?)

As to the new look, I like how the elves look alien. They should in my opinion. I love the horns on the Qunari. 

I hate the reused maps.

Modifié par Ahisgewaya, 19 mars 2011 - 05:07 .

[Wolvesleather]

I dislike that the non named items are sometimes more powerful than the named items. Normally a sword has a name because of amazing amounts of power thus it's recognizable because of the legendary powers.

I prefered the old screen that was being used for choosing my characters abilities it was much better in my opinion.

Warriors no longer being able to use bows was disappointing.

We had only two specialization points in Origins then we had more specialization points in Awakenings now we're back down to two specialization points. What happened?

Bard and arcane warrior along with other specializations from Origins and Awakenings are missing. Please be consistent.

I understand that having a monster have treasure instead of money makes sense but the items you sell should make sense. Nobody would pay money for a bag of pebbles gained from killing an enemy.

Character needed to read the tomes and I could use them on npc in my party in Origins. Now Hawke automatically uses the tomes yet I can still use the elixirs on npcs. This doesn't make sense to me. Why does he read the tomes yet not drink the elixirs automatically. Just go back to me choosing who to use the items on.

Qunari not looking like Sten and the elves appearance being change do not please me. Some of the elves look like they should be dying of darkspawn corruption.

Having lots of items for warriors rogues and mages yet only being able to use them on my main character made having all three types for use with a charcter that can use only one was wasteful when I can't use the excess armor on my companions.

Stamina and mana used to come back at the same amount for all the classes. Now my warrior needs to kill someone to regain stamina thief has to attack and mage gains mana back automatically. I prefer the old way of regaining stamina and mana.

Bring back the ability to play as something other than human and the diverse backgrounds that you could choose from in Origins.

Not having the same spells as Origins was annonying. Where did my grease spell go?

Modifié par Wolvesleather, 19 mars 2011 - 02:31 .

[TEWR]

Wolvesleather wrote....

Qunari not looking like Sten and the elves appearance being change do not please me. Some of the elves look like they should be dying of darkspawn corruption.

Hornless Qunari still exist, which is what Sten was.

As for the elves, some people won't like and others will. I myself love the new look of both the Qunari and the elves. Origins just made the elves look like humans with pointy ears, here they they look like they were actually described to be. Slender, thin, elven.


Besides, I do not want to see all the Qunari looking like Sten. That would seem like they're all a bunch of Fetts.

[Tempest]

Okay, as a tank I was really disappointed. I love tanking, I mean that I really have a passion for being the "meat shield". But what you gave warriors, especially hawk, to be a meat shield was...depressing. Hawke had no real stun, stagger, or knockback mitigation. The defender tree is a joke sadly. I maxed out the tree, I go into a fight against against the qunari and I'm sent flying around by their warriors and mages. The aggro radius is far too small for real use. In no way should "I" as a tank be 5 steps away from my taunt target for the ability to be effective. I WANT the attention as a tank, it is my purpose to reduce needless casualties. And only one character who is not the main hero gets Indomitable? Do you guys have any idea how critical of a skill that is for any respectable tank to have?

p.s. Lets talk about my character hitting an enemy multiple times who is basically at 1% health but will no die because I didn't use an ability or the "last" attack from a combo attack. This is a waste of time, mana/stamina, and dps in so many levels.

[AxellSlade]

[joke]The number of people telling that reused areas are used too much surpasses the number of reused areas used in-game[/joke]

Edit: Typos, reusing too much alchohol.

Modifié par AxellSlade, 19 mars 2011 - 03:35 .

[dubsaves]

I miss the full elemental tree for mages from origins

Weird directx 11/nvidia/engine issues = poor frame rate - it should cook with my setup phenom II 965/gtx 280

My first playthrough was digital crack I admit.

[Xaenn]

dubsaves wrote...

I miss the full elemental tree for mages from origins

Weird directx 11/nvidia/engine issues = poor frame rate - it should cook with my setup phenom II 965/gtx 280

My first playthrough was digital crack I admit.

With the newly released high def images and textures released for PC game looks very good.  Graphics setting "very high" runs smoothly Elfs still look like twigs with who have been air brushed, but I apreciate bioware releasing these textures! 1.2gigs? of textures

[SkittlesKat96]

If you guys look at Bioware's responses to these you'll realize that constructive criticism is actually a lot more sensible than flaming and get angry... (not that any of you do that, but we all know it's been happening on these boards.)

[macleodneo]

The battle system in this game was solid, again whiskey tango foxtrot did you do to the Elves? Please expand on the romances. The reuse of maps was mundane. If we can import from our previous games we should be able to see definate consquences. Please have more than two types of darkspawn. The loot system was cool. Graphics could not have been better with today's technology! Please bring back Isabella! She was an awesome addtion to the cast!

[Esbatty]

I liked that even if presented with certain missions for Companions I didn't feel bad for ignoring them. Ya know, they got on with their lives, as opposed to Mass Effect 2 where any time I tried to talk to them again it was a family reunion-level Mother's guilt trip.

Mordin: Commander I must speak-
Shep: Shush, I have more-
Mordin: I believe it is urgent to-
Shep: Seriously, quiet up and tell how I-
Mordin: It is imperative-
Shep: TELL ME HOW TO SEX TALI SAFELY!
Mordin: But my student?
Shep: You know what, I don't have time for this. I'm gonna go help Grunt get laid or something. I'll be on Tuchanka... stupid bug-eyed tuning fork.

[Ronin2006]

Dragon Age 2 was brilliant .  There are only a few trivial little things that could be improved such as:

• The storyline:  The framed narrative isn't a bad idea, but it could have been implemented so much better.  3 years pass at a time and there's barely any explanation as to what Hawke does during this time.  I guess he/she just sat around twiddling their thumbs.  Brilliant.  Then we look around Kirkwall after three years and everything still looks exactly the same, and the environments haven't changed at all.  The three Acts are almost completely independent of each other and rob the storyline of any direction and focus, and there are so many plot holes that the story comes across as a disjointed mess.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The re-use of environments:  Using an environment only once is great, twice is okay, three times is pushing it.  A dozen times and now you're making a mockery of your audience.  I'd rather a shorter game than one that re-uses the same environments to make it seem bigger than what it is.  The game is "padded", there's no denying it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Kirkwall:  Essentially we are stuck in one human city for the entire duration of the game.  Where are the elven forests, the magi towers or the dwarven mines?  Where is the imagination or sense of exploration?  I know some people are easily satisfied and can stomache this, but me personally, I like my games to have a bit of variation in the environments.  It's a part of good game design.  Yes, it may be part of the story, but you can always create a story to make many short cuts in your game design and it still won't make a better game.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The characters: Anders needs to stop whining.  I get it already, the mages are oppressed.  Fenris, you don't come across as mysterious, you come across as pretentious.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The combat:  So Hawke jumps 10 feet in the air while swinging his/her sword and completely ignores the effects of physics and gravity, and BAM 5 darkspawn all simultaneously EXPLODE on the screen.  Then I look across the screen and Isabella is teleporting and flying across the environment like some sort of super powered ninja from a B grade HK kung fu action movie.  Oh yes, this is satisfying ... not.  This is sacrificing any sense of realism for visceral satisfaction.  While the more responsive controls that were added are fantastic, you don't need to emphasise the added responsiveness by attaching them to these ridiculous animations, it just kills any sense of immersion.  Also, why does it feel like the combat is on fast-forward the whole time.  It's like I haven't been getting the benefit of the doubt in wanting to strategise my gameplay and just want to hack and slash my way to victory.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The respawning enemies:  I have yet to read of anyone actually liking it when the enemies just literally pop out of thin air across the battlefield.  Would it really have been too difficult to design a few spots with open doors or some other spot where they can spawn from? At least then I wouldn't feel like I'm being treated like a retard.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The lack of customisation of Hawke:  So Hawke has to be a human.  Oh thanks.  I guess anyone who enjoyed being an elf or dwarf in DA O was clearly wrong.  What could be more interesting than being a human? I guess I couldn't possibly want to play as a mysterious fantasy race with a unique backstory.  It's not like I don't like being a human, but I like having options even more.  I guess there are limitations when you insist that the character be created with a voice actor.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The lack of customisation of companions:  So everybody's look is predetermined and if I play as a mage I'm stuck with useless armour  (I spell it armour because I'm Australian, not American), if I play as a warrior I'm stuck with useless robes.  Yes I can sell them, but if it's a good item I would much rather give it to somebody else in my party.  Also, I liked it more when I could choose if my rogue either had dual weapons or a bow.  I liked it if I could choose a two handed weapon or sword and shield combination for my warriors.  I like it when I can customise my party according to the way I want to play.  Bioware kept saying that they would let people play this game how they want, but it certainly didn't feel like that when I couldn't pick how any of my companions would play.  Considering I control them in combat, I should be able to control their weapon choice and tactics a little more.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The lack of a campsite type of location:  In DA O we have the campsite, and in Mass Effect we have the Normandy.  If I want to talk to my companions I shouldn't have to travel across half the game world to talk to them all.  This problem is exacerbated by the fact that you can't have a conversation with anyone at anytime like in DA O.  The running around to talk to my companions was another area where the game felt "padded".
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Junk items:  I mean really, am I too dumb to determine for myself what junk is and isn't?  This is the most filler thing I have ever seen.  Get rid of this please.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The sidequests:  This game turned into a post man simulator at some points and it was awful.  Sidequests are briliant and an integral part of gameplay, but they aren't fun when they consist of running around carrying one item to a person in another part of town only to have them say "oh thanks." This was also another example of "padding" that made the game artificially long.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The new art designs:  Merril looks like an adolescent boy and Fenris belongs in Final Fantasy.  There is a difference between having 'unique' art design and 'good' art design.  (Fenris isn't even original anway!!!!)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Actually, who am I kidding.  This game was a disappointment.  No matter how much I like Bioware, and no matter how hard I tried to like this game these factors just killed it for me.

Modifié par Ronin2006, 19 mars 2011 - 08:56 .

[EddySpeddy]

I thought I'd also mention something, for good for better I don't know. I constantly get in fights whether it be day or night. Sometimes there are city guards/templars, but they just walk past. Why not have guards and what not join in on fights that are near them, whether they fight against you or for you, depending on who's in the wrong, or who started it, or whatever.

Also say you have a mage in your group, maybe have Templars patrol, and you have to avoid them or something...just some ideas here. This would make you feel like there is danger when you're a mage or with one, because so far whether I am a mage or not I can't really sympathize with a mages trouble, because you have no troubles avoiding Templars yourself.

P.S. I think you should make a DLC that get's you a Qunari companion xD

Modifié par EddySpeddy, 19 mars 2011 - 06:46 .

[Ahisgewaya]

I would like to say also that there were things I liked with this game. I liked the combat animations for the mages and the changes to the elf and qunari appearances. I also like the Champion mage robes.

One more thing I did not like which I just thought of is the lack of item descriptions. I like reading about the lore behind an item, it adds depth to the game. I was disappointed when the new mage staff I picked up said absolutely nothing about why it was called by the name it was.

As Ronin2006 just said, I don't get a sense of exploration in this game. In fact, pretty much all of the things he mentioned are things that I also have problems with. (With the exception of the way elves look. I like that they don't look human.)

Modifié par Ahisgewaya, 19 mars 2011 - 07:23 .

[MingWolf]

For the most part, I like the game for what it is.  I do have a list of criticisms though, and these extend down to the foundations of the game.  Some of these have been repeated, so I won't go into too much details.  They do, to a large extent, affect my enjoyment of the game, and I can honestly say that this is definately not the best Bioware game I've played.  Here is my list:

-Re-used areas: Its been repeated by forum members over and over... and I can understand why.  The game loses its sense of adventure and mystery when you see the same areas appear again and again.  A few reused areas are okay, but used too repetitively and it gets tiresome for the gamer.  I narrowed one eye when I saw such practice used in DA:O's DLCs, and I will do so here again. 

-The waves in combat: Its more for the fact that it doesn't always make sense, especially when your foes appear out of thin air.  When battles are prolongued because of this, it loses its entertaining value.

-Combat is a bit flashy: Too many flips, tumbles, teleportation feats, etc.  It might work in anime... but heh, I've spent a great many years studying the martial ways of various cultures around our planet to know that some of those flashy feats only work for amateurs who don't know how to properly wield a historical weapon and look great on the surface only.  In this regard, I'd prefer the slower paced combat in DA:O over this.  Don't get me wrong, some of the combat can be exhilerating.  The pacing is wonderful.  I love the way the mages swing their staves and love how my enemies burn beneath an AOE spell.  But the fighting tends to make me cringe a bit.  I know its fantasy, but I still think its an area that can be improved on.  

-Graphics: Looks great in some respects.  The lighting, the special effects, the wilderness, and the artistry seem well done.  Some of the character models look a bit awkward though.  The eye colors of some of the characters stand out as strange... the hairs, and the beards.  They don't seem as natural as they were in DA:O.  This goes for the monsters as well.

-Side quests: A bit disjointed.  In particular, I 'd like to criticize the ones where you simply find an item and return it to some owner you don't really know.  They add almost nothing to the game except for a few coins.  A lot of the side quests also have nothing to do with you, or the main story.  Its just... awkward, taking on quests that are so mutually exclusive from the main story.  In a way, it seems as though they are there only to extend gaming time.  That, and I felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of them.

-Main quests: My only criticism of the main quests are the way they are broken up and a bit exclusive from each other.  Added to the fact that these exclusive quests feel short in length.  I prefer a large linear plot that builds on itself, but maybe thats just me. 

-Cutscenes: Some are great, and some lack polish.  Facial expressions seems a little wooden at times, and dialogue seems a bit forced sometimes.  When a character is mourning, or is sad, they don't really look that way.  I remember seeing actual tears pouring out of characters in Mass Effect 2 when it comes to emotionally climatic moments.  I was a bit surprised to not see that here.  

-Music: Wonderfully composed but doesn't always fit the moment.

-Companions: While I like them for the most part, I do find them a bit too... how should we say this... singular.  Each and everyone of them seem to have but one theme, and one theme alone, which makes them a bit 2-dimensional.  The lawful warrior, the chaotic mage, the witty rogue, the zealous holyman, all of which seems to be as deep down as it gets for our cast of heroes.  They don't seem as memorable as identities like: Jaheira, a widowed druid who was a harper and who is often torn between principles;  Yoshimo, who outright betrays you;  Deekin, who was more than just a kobold;  Leliana, who was more than just a laysister and had a curious backstory as a bard; Liara, who went from a scientist to an underground information broker; you get the idea.

Thats just my list.  I still like the game, but theres definately areas that can be improved on I think.